'Birds tame Tigers

GREEN RIDGE — The Cole Camp girls basketball team’s imposing defense and strong post play proved to be the difference in the Kaysinger Conference matchup.

The Bluebirds (3-3)  cruised to a 57-30 win over Green Ridge by forcing the Lady Tigers into turnovers and relying on the transition game to build a double-digit lead.

“Our defense was solid tonight,” Cole Camp coach Brian Rice said. “When you hold a team down to single digits most of the quarters, it says you’re doing a nice job on defense. Tonight, we were able to get out and run the floor and get some good finishes.”

The teams traded baskets early and the score remained close until late in the first quarter.

Cole Camp’s strong post play gave it an 8-5 advantage. Erin Rice sparked a 5-0 run with two straight baskets, and the Bluebirds closed out the first quarter with a 13-5 lead.

Green Ridge’s Emmaly Harrison cut the deficit to 14-8 with a 3-pointer from the top of the key, but that was the closest the Lady Tigers got to the lead.

Cole Camp answered with a 5-0 run capped off by an old-fashioned 3-point play from Rice.

Cole Camp continued to create easy scoring opportunities in the post.

“I think our post guys did a good job finishing and our perimeter players did a good job of finding them open down low,” coach Rice said.

Cole Camp’s post players dominated the glass, and Green Ridge had trouble finding open shots. The lead ballooned to 19 points, but Harrison gave Green Ridge hope at the half by nailing a 40-foot buzzer-beater to cut the lead to 31-15.

The Bluebirds opened  the second half with a 9-1 run to stretch the lead to 24 points, and once again, Green Ridge couldn’t find the basket.

The Lady Tigers managed just five third-quarter points and trailed 42-20 heading into the final frame.

Cole Camp removed its starters at the beginning of the fourth quarter and the bench played well down the stretch. The lead never fell below 22 points and Cole Camp knocked down free throws to cap off the win.

Cole Camp’s Raegen Pierson (nine) and Jenna Cordes (11) combined for 20 points.

Erin Rice paced the Lady Bluebirds with 16 points, eight rebounds, five steals and four blocks.